p.rehbein

Suffer the little chlidren to come unto me......................don't remember right off who said that, but I believe He really loved children and didn't condem them for the sins of the father.............but, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Suffer the little chlidren to come unto me......................don't remember right off who said that, but I believe He really loved children and didn't condem them for the sins of the father.............but, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Nope, you are not wrong. They may naturally gain some of the problems of the parents, but that is just the natural nature of sin...it doesn't just affect the one sinning, it spreads to those around him/her. But as far as Jesus, He won't keep from blessing them....

So what ever happened to "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone" or "Love thy Neighbor as thyself"? What happened to "Judge not or you shall be judged"? Or better yet, "..forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us"? We are not God, we are not Jesus. We have not right to say anything about this. And to this that a child can not be blessed goes against the fact that Jesus died for everyone. He didn't die for "some people". He didn't die for the righteous, he died for the sinners. Which means everyone!-For we were all born into sin. And those who read this think not me, Yes you too!

Because no one but Jesus was righteous on this earth. If these children can not be blessed, what makes us think that we can be? We are sinful, we have acknowledged this, and asked forgiveness...Where in the Bible does it say we sit on the White Throne of Judgment? We don't! So bless everyone! I am NOT sorry if I sound preachy for this goes against everything the Bible teaches us. Remember that the Devil knows the scriptures too, and he mixes just enough truth with the lies to flatter and entice us. So tell me, what is the concoction or ratio of truth and lies in this? Pray for discernment from God, for everything in me sees this as sheep in wolves clothing.

If I am wrong, then let the one hasn't sinned judge me for this. In case you weren't listening, that would the Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Who even nailed on the cross after receiving all the beatings, the 39 lashes that ripped His flesh open, bore the crown of thorns, was nailed to the cross, spit on, insulted, betrayed, and still He prayed for the ones who did these things to Him. The most selfish thing a Christian can do is walk through the gates of heaven along. Jesus paid far to high a price for any of us to pick and choose who is worthy.

I believe that he should dedicate the children, regardless of whether the parents are married or not... But let's try and look at this from his point of view.... He probably sees an epidemic of unmarried parents having more and more children, and this is probably his attempt at trying to deter people from doing this and encourage them to get married. Yes we need to pray for him, but should we applaud him for not going against his morals and doing something that he doesn't believe in. It takes a lot of guts to go against media and public pressure and stand up for something you believe in.

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larry2

His statement that we haven't stepped up to the plate teaching young people the consequence of their sexual behavior I think he said, is another promotion of his righteousness; pride is terrible thing to waste huh?

Next week all that break any rule of the governmental laws such as speeding will not be able to take the Lord's supper, and then be asked to give up their cars.

I doubt that my pastor would have a dedication service for children of a couple who weren't married. He would gently and kindly tell them what The Bible says about this and that they do need to be married. In my experience, couples who aren't church goers ask for baptisms anyway, and not dedications, and if they are regular members of a church the pastor should have been talking to them anyway about their need to get married. I respect his decision and admire him for standing up for moral values. So few, do. A relative of my ex husband has been attending a church for 2 years, and no one has said anything to her about the fact that she has been living with a man, and a non believer, for 5 years. No child is being punished by this, they can make their own decisions when they are older to believe and be baptised if they want to.

Jesus blesses the little ones with or without our "ceremony". Even in this fallen world where a little one can suffer the results of evil as well as adults can -- He holds them in His hands.

If the parents want some kind of blessing/dedication/christening, because they are thinking in "magical" terms, that this somehow protects the baby -- well, fine, the preacher/priest can go to their house and do it in private, with just the family around, without fanfare and without seeming public church approval of the parents' pre-marital choices.

If what they really want is the dress-up occasion in the Big Church with lots of guests... and gifts for the kid... and inauguration of Godparents... well, if those trappings of church life are important to them, then all the other trappings ought to be, also.

As for that baby -- when you have unwed and/or troubled parents, in a situation not up to God's best plan for them, it's the relationship that's "illegitimate", not the baby. The baby is the one bright spot in the whole situation.

The pastor has been misrepresented in this thread. He did not say he would not bless the child. What he actually said was that he would not do it in a church setting but he would be glad to do it at home or another setting that was not public. You need to watch the video.